Oasis Heating, A/C & Refrigeration Blog : Archive for July, 2013

As its name implies, a tankless water heater system brings hot water to your home without using a tank. Instead, water circulates through a heat exchange, which raises its temperature before passing it on to your faucet. That saves energy since it only heats the water you need it. It also tends to make tankless water heaters smaller than traditional tanked water heaters, which means they take up less space. A tankless water heater in Alexandria, VA, can help you maintain an efficient home, saving you money on hot water costs without skimping on little luxuries like long showers.

You and your installer will discuss what the hot water requirements are for your home and select a model that fits both your water usage and your budget.

You and the installing technician determine the best location in your house for the tankless heater, according to your wishes and needs. Local building codes may apply.

The technician shuts off water to the house, then disconnects the old water heater from the water supply. The process is then repeated with the old water heater’s source of energy (usually gas or electricity).

The old water heater is removed and properly disposed of according to local ordinances.

The tankless water heater is mounted to the wall or otherwise secured firmly to the spot you and your technician have decided upon. The tech will then connect it to the water supply and hook it up to the heat source. This can be complicated because different types of water heaters will have different set-ups – only a trained technician is qualified to perform the installation.

The technician will then test the water heater and verify all connections are secure.

If you’re considering tankless water heater installation for your home call upon the experts at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. We’ve served the Alexandria, VA area for over fifteen years, and our technicians have the expertise to install your water heater quickly and professionally. Set up an appointment today.

Forced-air air conditioning systems like heat pumps and central AC systems are some of the most popular cooling systems in the country. They use a series of ducts through which they push the cooled air into the rest of your home. Since the air in your home is cycled through this system again and again, your HVAC system can have a big impact on your home’s air quality. Read below to see how you can improve your air quality with your HVAC system.

Air filters and purifiers – One of the best ways for homeowners to improve air quality is with an air filter or air purifier. These types of products usually sit in the ducts or in the air handler where they can trap or remove contaminants from the air. Air filters usually use a dense material like fiberglass to remove particulates while purifiers use electrostatic energy.

Humidity control – Here in Virginia, our summers can get humid and the winters can get very dry. These fluctuations can cause big issues for your home’s air quality. Air that is too humid can allow insect populations and mold levels to increase while dry air can increase dust levels and cause dry throats and nasal passages. That’s why we offer humidifier and dehumidifier installation and repair services. These products can keep humidity levels in your home under control and increase air quality. They are also usually installed in your ductwork or air handler.

UV germicidal lights – Many medical facilities use ultra violet light to sanitize their equipment. This is because UV light is incredibly damaging to microorganisms like viruses and bacteria. When used in your home, UV lights are installed after any air filters or humidity control systems so that any large particles like dust or dander don’t get in the way. The UV lights destroy the bacteria or virus’ ability to reproduce which renders them essentially harmless.

If you need Arlington, VA air conditioning and indoor air quality services, call the experts at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration.

You never like hearing it, no matter what the situation: that grating, grinding noise of machinery parts scraping against each other. This is especially true with your air conditioning: an absolute necessity during the summer in Alexandria, VA regardless of whether you’re cooling a home or a business. Whatever the cause of it, that grinding sound likely means a visit from a qualified professional to make sure it doesn’t get worse.

Grinding sounds arise when two or more moving parts come together in ways they aren’t supposed to. With air conditioning, that probably means the fan, which may have bent or broken components striking another metal section of the unit. The fan belt, too, can cause a grinding sound when loose or broken parts start rubbing up against it. In fact, any loose screws or fittings might make a grinding noise when they come into contact with other moving parts. In some situations, the piston in the compressor may fail and need replacement.

Any number of issues can cause this sort of damage, from twigs and stones lodging in the fan array to general wear and tear that may lead to a breakdown. The good news is that it announces itself fairly clearly. You’ll never mistake that grinding noise for an air conditioning unit working like it should. That usually signals a complex problem, however, which means you need a qualified technician to give it a look, rather than attempting repairs yourself. Experienced air conditioning repair technicians can likely spot the source of the trouble very quickly, and diagnose a repair plan before the noise begins to interfere with your AC’s performance.

Alexandria, VA residents can look to OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. to get that grinding noise checked out. We make service calls throughout Northern Virginia and are fully equipped to solve any problem quickly and efficiently before it gets out of hand. Our technicians are familiar with a wide variety of equipment and we’re dedicated to 100% customer satisfaction. Give us a call today to talk to one of our Alexandria, VA air conditioning technicians; we’ll make that grinding sound a thing of the past and make your AC operate at peak efficiency again.

Is it time of you to replace your air conditioning system? Are you finishing building a new home and you need an AC system for it? If so, you may be thinking about the air conditioning options that are available to you. A great option for many homeowners is a ductless mini split air conditioning system. We wanted to use this blog post to let our customers know exactly what ductless AC systems are and when they’re a good idea. Give us a call here at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. if you have any questions or if you need professional Alexandria, VA air conditioning installation services.

Most homeowners are used to the idea of an air conditioning system using a series of ducts to circulate cool air throughout your home. But there are ductless systems that offer some pretty attractive benefits over traditional forced-air systems.

Ductless mini split air conditioning and heating systems use wall-mounted units in each room or zone of the house. Each unit circulates the air in its particular area and either cools or heats it. All the units are connected to one or two central outdoor units similar to the outdoor condensing unit that is used with traditional central AC system. The installation process is actually very simple. The outdoor unit is installed away from the home. A small hole needs to be drilled in your walls to run refrigerant tubes and electrical wires to connect the indoor units and the outdoor unit; then the indoor units just need to be mounted on the wall in an appropriate place.

Benefits of Ductless Air Conditioning

Ductless mini split air conditioning system offer some unique benefits. First, they allow homeowners to control the temperature of different areas of their house independently of each other. This could reduce energy usage because you’ll only need to cool or heat the rooms that you’re using. Second, ductless mini split AC systems don’t have the energy loss that is associated with ducts. And since they don’t use ducts, they can also help keep the air in your home clean and avoid dust build-up.

The best way to tell if a ductless mini split air conditioning system is right for you is to work with a professional Alexandria, VA air conditioning installation technician. Call OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. today.

The 4th of July will forever hold a very special place in the history of the United States of America. On this day in 1776, the second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence.

Not only is Independence Day an important day in our nation’s history, but for many people it is a day that is filled with memories from celebrations of years past. Fireworks, barbeques, baseball games, fairs, carnivals, patriotic music and ceremonies are all scattered through our memories as we’ve participated in annual parties, get-togethers, picnics and family gatherings throughout the years. John Adams, our 2nd president, was right when he said that our Independence Day “…ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

The 4th of July is truly a day to enjoy but also to remember and respect the sacrifice that many brave men and women made over 200 years ago to give us the freedom that we cherish today. However you celebrate Independence Day, make sure that you take a moment to remember what this day is really about.